MKHIWENI – More than 8 100 people in Mkhiweni Inkhundla are set to benefit from improved access to safe drinking water following the commissioning of an E18 million water infrastructure project by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy and development partner World Vision Eswatini.
The project, officially commissioned yesterday by the Minister for Natural Resources and Energy, HRH Prince Lonkhokhela, comprises nine solar-powered water supply systems and 30 hand pumps aimed at improving water security and enhancing the livelihoods of rural communities.
Prince Lonkhokhela was accompanied by Principal Secretary Lindiwe Mbingo, Director of Water Affairs Mr Khoza and the Minister for Agriculture, who is also the Member of Parliament for Mkhiweni, Mandla Tshawuka. The delegation toured several completed project sites to assess their impact on local communities.
The newly commissioned infrastructure forms part of a 17-year partnership between World Vision Eswatini and stakeholders to improve the lives of residents in Mkhiweni. Through the partnership, sustainable development initiatives have reached more than 23 700 people across the constituency.
According to project information shared during the commissioning ceremony, the E18 million investment has increased access to safe water in Mkhiweni from 29.6 per cent to 59.6 per cent. The improvement is expected to reduce the distance travelled by residents in search of water while contributing to better sanitation, public health and economic productivity.
Speaking during the ceremony, World Vision Eswatini Board Member Mbuso Dlamini described the commissioning as a significant milestone for the community.
“This commissioning represents more than infrastructure; it marks the beginning of a stronger, healthier and more resilient future,” he said.
Dlamini noted that access to clean and reliable water remained fundamental to improving health outcomes, supporting education and promoting sustainable economic development.
Agriculture Minister and Mkhiweni Member of Parliament Mandla Tshawuka welcomed the completion of the projects but said there was still a need to extend water services to underserved communities.
He highlighted the continuing water shortages affecting Luve, one of the busiest economic centres within the inkhundla, saying more investment was required to ensure every household had access to safe and reliable water.
The commissioning aligns with national efforts to improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene services while contributing towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal Six, which seeks to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
The government and its development partners said they remained committed to expanding access to clean water in rural communities as part of broader efforts to improve living standards and build resilient communities across Eswatini.
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